If the O’Hare expansion legislation being muscled through the General Assembly gets through (and is signed by G-Rod after a very pensive, deliberative two or three hours), it may never end.

The legislation would allow Chicago to expand beyond the 433 acres Da Mare agreed to in his deal with Gov. George “Safe Highways” Ryan.

“We can’t tell today exactly how this airport will turn out because the FAA review isn’t finished,” city lawyer Michael Schneiderman told the Tribune. “We may have to move runways slightly, runway protection zones and change the location of [navigation] beacons. If more land is need, though, it would be just a little more, and a surprise to us.”

You can almost see the guy biting his lip to stop himself from breaking out in fits of laughter. You see, if they need the extra land, it’ll only be a little, and it’ll be a big surprise. And isn’t it odd that Da Mare wants the General Assembly to get this deal done even though the FAA hasn’t even signed off on it yet?

I’m not big on federal oversight, but if the FAA’s supposed to make sure the damn thing’s safe, shouldn’t we make sure the plan’s safe before approving it. You see, it’s get the deal done first, ask questions (which will be ignored) later.

The legislation would also require any pending lawsuits to be removed to friendlier Cook County courts. How convenient!